[Misc] Xerox versus Ricoh

[bobbykerr]

Hi Folks,

may any be changing to Xerox from working on Ricoh for twenty years , can anyone advise on how they compare , ie engineer friendly ease of repair , have heard that a laptop needs to be hooked up to run sp modes ??? Have also heard training courses are vastly different from "Ricoh" ones - bit nerve wracking so used to Ricoh !!!!!!

[scottybbb]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

I would like to hear thoughts on this also.We are picking up Xerox and will be going to class soon.Have primarily worked on Konica Minolta the last 15yrs.Have also worked on Kyocera's and Toshibas.Have been to classes for all 3 of those companies.

[Jake2o]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

HI,
I've worked on Xerox machines for 15 years now. Really they are very good when they print right they beat every other printer out there. I have only changed a board 4 times in all that time, even though the service manual says change board for every error code it very rarely is.

The service software can be hooked up to the machine in order to use service mode easier, you can stack components and run several simultaneously but you can also use the UI in service mode to do the same thing but you can only run one component at the time.

Replacing filters is important, developer housings go quite often. You can print off a list of HFSI's (High Frequency Service Items) this gives you a list of the most common parts and where they are in their life. Replace when they go over threshold as a regular service vist and you wont have trouble with them.

[jcchenry69]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

Xerox are good builds. They are generally up there with reliability.
Training is relative. .All machines and manuals have their quirks. Generally find ricoh as well built but tend to complicate things. That's my 5 cents worth.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Iowatech]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

Hi Folks,

may any be changing to Xerox from working on Ricoh for twenty years , can anyone advise on how they compare , ie engineer friendly ease of repair , have heard that a laptop needs to be hooked up to run sp modes ??? Have also heard training courses are vastly different from "Ricoh" ones - bit nerve wracking so used to Ricoh !!!!!!

I went through this very same transition a few years ago, and I'm still alive. So you should be fine.
Keep in mind this very basic advice a coworker gave me when I was somewhat apprehensive about this, a blank sheet goes in one side, a printed sheet comes out the other. Your experience with this will help you out a lot.
It is true that the PWS must be hooked up to the machine to perform some service functions, but to date I haven't needed to do that. There are many service functions that can be entered into from the control panel.
The learning curve comes from the basic service language that Xerox has developed over time. It is different than what Ricoh uses, and it is taking me a while to learn. That's why the online training courses are different, although they aren't that hard. Instructor led courses that I've been through are pretty good, although the ones I've been through have been led by instructors from our local mothership.
Hope that helps. If not, sorry for wasting your time.

[Exok]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

I now work on Xerox after being a Ricoh tech for many years and I like working on Xerox much more. No more lengthy PMs. No more horrible toner systems. No more rebuilding cleaning units or fusing units. No more leaky developer units that spill out on top of feed clutches. Only the older models require that you hook up a PWS laptop to run diagnostics. All other models have built in diagnostics that are easy to use. Some models you will need service documentation to change certain parameters as they are only listed as code while some will clearly list what the value you are looking at is for (NVM values vs SP codes).

The only thing I see more that I didn't when working on Ricoh was the need to do many more software upgrades to correct problems. Not having worked on Ricoh now for the last 8 years that could just be a part of the times with technology changing and maybe the need to upgrade Ricoh software more often is the case?

Bottom line, you'll be fine.

[Jake2o]

Re: Xerox versus Ricoh

And at the very least you'll have another manufacture and their products under you belt. One of the reason a spent time with Canons.